An apparently drunk driver hit a county-owned asphalt spreader on Gum Springs Church Road, according to an incident report from the Jackson County Sheriff’s Office.

A woman initially called to report that a truck hit her mailbox and left. A deputy said it also appeared that the driver hit a piece of county-owned road equipment.

The deputy followed the marks left on the roadway because the vehicle had a flat tire. He followed the marks to Ga. Hwy. 11 and into Barrow County, where he spotted the truck on Pleasant Hill Church Road.

The deputy said the driver of the truck was leaning on the driver’s side of the vehicle, which had extensive damage to the rear and sides, according to an incident report. The driver said his vehicle spun out and ran off the roadway.

The deputy said he could smell alcohol on the driver, who began to fumble around the truck when the deputy asked for his license.

Fearing the driver could have a weapon in the truck, the deputy told him to get out of the truck. The driver didn’t follow his instructions and was placed into handcuffs. The Georgia State Patrol then arrived and the Jackson County deputy turned the scene over to them.

The next day, a Jackson County Road Department employee said an asphalt spreader with a bucket was damaged by the drunk driver’s vehicle, but it was still operating properly. The employee said the equipment was located off the roadway, but it was now in the edge of the right-of-way, according to an incident report.

Other Incidents
Other incidents in the West Jackson area reported to the Jackson County Sheriff’s Office last week included:
•welfare check at a Winder Highway, Jefferson, address, where a man said his estranged wife sent him a concerning text message. The wife told a deputy she doesn’t have intentions to harm herself, but she wanted her estranged husband to feel guilty.

•warrant service at a Ga. Hwy. 53, Hoschton, address, where a man involved in a wreck was arrested because he had a warrant for his arrest in Gwinnett County for DUI.

•welfare check at a Sam Freeman Road, Hoschton, address, where a man called 911 asking for a phone number to someone who can help those with depression. The man told a deputy he was upset over the loss of relatives. The man said he wouldn’t hurt himself, but he wanted to talk to someone. The deputy told the man if he felt like hurting himself to call 911.

•simple battery at a Kingston Place, Hoschton, address, where a couple got into an argument during dinner about the TV being too loud. The husband allegedly hit his wife with a plate and a pillow multiple times during the argument. A deputy said the couple’s living room was in disarray after the argument. The husband was charged with simple battery.

•civil dispute at an Eugene Court, Jefferson, address, where a landlord said a tenant called him to report that there were some unwanted people on his property. A deputy spoke to several people at the scene. The landlord allowed a woman to stay at the property, but said he would start the eviction process against other people.

•domestic dispute at a Jesse Cronic Road, Braselton, address, where family members had an argument about purchased items.

•suicidal thoughts at a Stone Creek Drive, Hoschton, address, where a father was concerned about his school-age son making threats on Facebook about taking his life. Officials from the son’s school apparently called someone after the comments were posted. A deputy talked to the son and took to a hospital for an evaluation.

•DUI arrest at a Jackson Trail Road, Jefferson, address, where a deputy stopped a driver after getting reports that he was unable to maintain his lane. The driver was unable to speak English and kept saying “Winder” to multiple questions asked by the deputy. At the jail, the driver talked to a Spanish-speaking deputy, but the driver refused to give his name, birthdate or other identifying information. Deputies also called a woman to learn his identity. Deputies said they spend a long time trying to learn the driver’s identity. The driver’s blood-alcohol content was .260. A background check of the man’s fingerprints showed his correct name and birthdate. He was charged with DUI, obstruction and giving a false name to law enforcement officers.

•burglary at a Winder Highway, Jefferson, address, where a man said someone stole electrical wiring and copper tubing from a vacant house.

•theft by taking at a Cecil Clark Road, Braselton, address, where a man said he believed his landlord was trying to run him off his property by refusing to maintain the yard and fix an air conditioning unit. The man said he also thinks the landlord is stealing power meters. A deputy said a Jackson EMC meter was damaged on the property. It was replaced by the company, but then stolen.

•damage to property on Interstate 85, where a man said he hit a mattress that was lying in the roadway and he couldn’t remove it from under his vehicle. A deputy said he could see wires and springs under the man’s vehicle. The man contacted AAA for help.

•evidence collected at a Cooper Bridge Road, Braselton, address, where a Jackson County deputy was told by a Hall County deputy that he may have evidence of a stabbing that occurred in Jackson County in August. The woman there was a fight between the victim and another man in a wooded area. She said she saw the suspect with a knife that was later found in her purse. The woman claimed she didn’t know that particular knife was in her purse, as she keeps a different knife in her purse. The Jackson County deputy took the knife into evidence.

•verbal dispute at a Duck Road, Braselton, address, where a man said he was tired of his neighbors leaving trash on their property when he has allowed them to use his driveway for 20 years. The man said he told the neighbors several times to clean their property or he would install a fence to block access to the driveway. A woman at the neighboring house said she was tired of the man coming to her and yelling about the trash. The woman said she was removing the trash that day. A deputy told the parties if they couldn’t speak to each other in a civil manner, they should stay away from each other.

•criminal damage to property at a Jefferson Avenue, Hoschton, address, where a man said someone used a permanent marker to write on the windows, a glass door and a sliding glass door of a house while he was out of town.

•damage to property at a Jackson Trail Road, Jefferson, address, where a man said someone “keyed” his vehicle three weeks ago. At the time, the man didn’t report the incident. He reported a second incident of “keying” on the vehicle by an unknown person. The man said he didn’t know who could be “keying” his vehicle.

•harassment by phone at a Hickory Walk, Hoschton, address, where a woman said her son’s father has been sending her harassing text messages at various hours for the past few weeks. The woman and the man are involved in a custody dispute about the child.

•damage to property at Publix on Ga. Hwy. 124, Hoschton, where a woman said someone apparently “keyed” her vehicle while she was shopping in the store.

•thefts by taking at a Jacob Drive, Hoschton, address, where a man said someone stole a lock on his gate.